Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-01-27
OLD GIANTS.
Their Enduring Work IN the
Crowding World.
Christopher Mondragon, the Spanish Hero
-DOge DandolO, of Venice--Many Fa-
NOUS Ones Beyond Three
Score Years and Ten.


Score Years and Ten.
In Motley's 'Unlted Netherlands"
one Christopher Mondragon, a Spanish
officer, is a striking figure among the
military heroes of that stormy period.
In 1895 he was ninety-two years old.
His whole life had been spent in war
fare, more than thirty years of it in the
Netherlands in unwearying efforts,
under his bloody minded master, Philip
H., to crush out the liberties of the
Low Countries. In 1872, when nearly
seventy years old, he performed a feat
which has hardly a parallel in the an
mails of war. The town of Tergocs
was situated on an island between two
arms of the river Scheldt, and nearly
ten miles from the mainland. This
space between the island and the MAIN
land was formerly covered with viii
lagos, and swarming with busy pop
ulation. But storm, fiercer than ever
known to that region, had, fifty years
before, broken through the dykes and
overwhelmed beneath the oceans
waves fertile fields and thrifty habita-
tons. The sea stood thencefOrth
where the dry land had been, and the
part submerged was known by the
name of the drowned Land"
Tergoes was held by the Spanish. but
the patriot forces were besicging the
town with such numbers and vigor
that it must soon be captured, unless
relief should reach the besiegcd, and
this their position forbade them to ex-
pect. Relief, however, was ut hand
through an extraordinary way. Parties
who had tried it reported to Mondragon
that it was practicable to pass troops
across this drowned district. For
when the tide was out the water be-
tween the mainland and island was
only from four to five feet deep,
though it rose ten feet through the in
coming flood. The bottom of the est
uary was muddy and treacherous. The
hazardous exploit must be performed
by night, and but six hours at longest
could be given to its accomplishment.
for beyond this the rising tide would
Overtake and overwhelm all who were
engaged in the enterprise.
The difficulty and peril of the enter
prise had special charms for Colonel
Mondragon, and he inspired the 5000
picked Spanish troops whom he selected
to accompany him with his own en-
thusiasm. At half ebb tide he plunged
bravely and even gayly into the waves
at the head of his adventurous band;
and after floundering and at times
swimming few feet. but still strug-
Cling forward, he, at the end of five
hours. before the day dawned, landed
with his entire command. nine persons
excepted, who were drowned in the
transit. The beleaguering patriots be-
fore Tergoes were aghast ut this sud-
den apparitiOn of a Spanish host rising.
as it were, out of the waves. They fed,
seized with panic, in all directions,
and the town was effectually relieved.
The feat was altogether a marvellous
one. especially as achieved by veteran
of seventy. and well might Alva. who.
however blood-thirsty and remorseless,
was yet consummate soldier, charac-
terize it rs lone of the most brilliant
and original achievements in the an
mails of war"
DISTINGUISHED VICTORY.
For twenty-five years longer this in
domitable old man. continued in active
service in the Netherlands, being in
1895 in command of the citadel of Ant
werp. Hearing that Prince Maurice
was investing the city of Grol. Mon
dragon determined to relieve it and
give battle to his young and enterprise
ing adversary. Issuing from his fort
ress. he put himself at the head of seven
or eight thousand troops, hastily col
lckkd, marched straight across Bra
bant and Gilderland to the Rhine,
crossed this river, outgeneraled Maui
rice, whose force he overthrow in q
bloody conflict, and. having perfectly
accomplished his object, returned in
triumph to Antwerp. In the admiring
words of Motley: ''Alone he had
planned his expedition across the coun-
try from Antwerp; alone he had
insisted on crossing the Rhine.
while younger soldiers hesitated;
alone with his own activ. brain
and busy hands he had outw;tted the
famous young chieftain of the Neither
Lands. counteracted his subtle policy,
and set the cOunter-amtush, by which
his choicest calvary were cut to pieces,
and one Of his bravest Generals slain.
So far could the icy blood of ninety
two prevail against the vigor Of twenty
eight. This year. however, ended the
old warriors triumpks and labo.. of
whatever Kind. For more than thzee-